There is several "why's" in the film industry, and one of them would be the astonishing marketing schemes they come up with. Why you would use a poster to promote a movie which implies promiscuous sex while there is but not one naked scene in it, is an answer well locked up in Hollywood's darkest idea rooms.

And that's what they did with MYSTERY, ALASKA: two pairs of legs sticking out of an igloo suggesting that this movie is going to be filed next to names like "Porky's" and "Nerd's Vacation" in the videoshops.

In fact, nothing could be more further from the truth. MYSTERY, ALASKA is one of those movies that tells a simple tale of a small town in Alaska where folks believe ice hockey to be god. Everyone lives for it. Being isolated though has its drawbacks and the players never get the opportunity to play with the big guns. Until one day when fate comes knocking on their door when a big promoter brings a grand scale match to Mystery.

From here we meet the different characters in town, their struggles and desires. The impression you get from looking at these people, is everyday life. There are the heroes, the has-beens, the adulterers, the authority figures, those who had bigger dreams but could never get themselves to leave and those who did get out. So, the only rationality I can think of for using the marketing poster the way they are doing, is to imply that sex must also be part of everyday life but once again, that statement might just be as far off the truth as the poster itself.

The movie must be applauded for a superb ending and avoiding another typical Hollywood induced finale. Also you can't help but to feel that MYSTERY, ALASKA bears quite a resemblance to inner character development and conflict as "Beautiful Girls" and can be safely tagged a good sister-film for "Beautiful Girls" .

Yes, MYSTERY, ALASKA is a feel good movie, surrounded by hope and friendship and loyalty. It reaches to these senses and emotions we experience and observe daily. The movie is as a result very entertaining and could as a matter of fact appeal to everyone.

-- Jean-Pierre Pellissier